The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has declared a decisive war against organized crime in the state. On Thursday, the administration announced it will launch a full-scale offensive against gangster networks, drawing inspiration from its ongoing 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' anti-drug campaign.
Leadership Announces Major Security Initiative
The significant announcement was made jointly by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. They were addressing a gathering of newly elected members of zila parishads and block samitis. Kejriwal stated unequivocally that after the ongoing drive against narcotics, the government's focus will shift to completely "eliminating" all gangster networks operating within Punjab.
Kejriwal framed this new offensive as a continuation of the government's commitment to providing clean and secure governance. He pointed to the party's performance in the recent panchayat elections, where AAP won over 70% of the seats, as a clear public mandate for this style of politics. He hailed these elections as the cleanest in Punjab's history, a stark contrast to the past.
A Mandate for Clean and Pro-People Governance
Elaborating on the election results, Kejriwal contrasted them with previous polls marred by booth-capturing, voter coercion, and 'gundagardi' (hooliganism). He highlighted that this time, democratic processes prevailed. Over 600 seats were decided by a margin of fewer than 100 votes, with the opposition winning more than 350 of these closely contested seats, some by just a single vote.
"This shows that we did not misuse our power or indulge in any coercion," Kejriwal asserted. He described AAP as a party of "ordinary and decent people," noting that a majority of the newly elected representatives, like himself and CM Mann, hail from non-political family backgrounds.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann emphasized that their government's "pro-people governance" has set a new benchmark, forcing traditional political parties to rewrite their agendas and manifestos. On the government's aggressive stance against drugs, Kejriwal credited the success so far to the administration's "political will and courage."
Political Contrasts and Future Roadmap
During the meeting, the leadership did not shy away from criticizing rival parties. CM Mann launched a sharp attack on the Congress and the Akali Dal, labeling them as parties without a concrete agenda for the people's welfare.
Echoing the sentiment, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia stated that the overwhelming mandate in the local body polls is a direct reflection of public trust. He said people have faith in the state government's development-oriented and pro-people policies, which now include this renewed vow to rid Punjab of the gangster menace.
The announcement sets the stage for a significant escalation in the state's law and order strategy, positioning the anti-gangster drive as the next major pillar in AAP Punjab's security and governance plank.
